目を閉じて
me o tojite
To say 'close your eyes' in Japanese, you use 目を閉じて (me o tojite).
This phrase is used as a request or command to have someone shut their eyelids.
What does it mean word for word?
目 (me) means 'eye'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The te-form tojite used alone functions as a casual request or command. You can make the request more polite by adding ください (kudasai) to the end of 目を閉じて, resulting in 目を閉じてください.
How do you pronounce it?
me o tojite
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word for 'eye' 目 is a homophone for the word 'bud' on a plant, suggesting that both are 'eyes' that open to the world.
- In Japanese, the verb 閉じる (tojiru) is used for closing things like eyes, books, or even a conversation, whereas 閉める (shimeru) is used for physical barriers like doors or windows.
- In traditional Japanese theater like Noh, actors may keep their eyes partially closed or focused downward to convey a specific state of spiritual intensity or mourning.
Examples in context
- 目を閉じて。Close your eyes.Tatoeba #79931 by bunbuku, translation #434446 by lukaszpp
- ちょっと目を閉じて。Just close your eyes.Tatoeba #2063320 by bunbuku, translation #1860701 by CK
- もう一度、目を閉じて。Close your eyes again.Tatoeba #10780382 by small_snow, translation #4574685 by Hybrid
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota is surprising Yui with a gift.
- 陽太 Yota結衣、目を閉じて。Yui, me o tojite.Yui, close your eyes.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、何？いいよ。E, nani? Ii yo.Eh, what is it? Okay.
- 陽太 Yotaいいから、ゆっくり目を閉じて。Ii kara, yukkuri me o tojite.Just close your eyes slowly.
- 結衣 Yuiもう、気になるよ！Mou, ki ni naru yo!Geez, now I'm curious!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
